Week 43

Welcome back, happy Tuesday, and happy Halloween!  Can you believe it's November tomorrow? We have that cold chill in the air which is normal for us right around Halloween.  This may be the end of shorts and flip-flops and the start of sweaters and boots.  Where has the year gone?

Before we leave fall for winter take a look at last week's pictures:

Day 295- Sunday, 10/22/17

A day to relax and just chill.  He looks so comfy and content.  Now get back to your chores son!

Day 296- Monday, 10/23/17

This tree in our yard changes colors in an interesting way.  The leaves turn yellow but also get this brown veining effect.  It's different but in a cool way.

Day 297- Tuesday, 10/24/17

She wants something from me.  Oh yeah--her evening walk.  It's getting dark earlier now so the walk tonight was highlighted by a beautiful fall dusk sky.

Day 298- Wednesday, 10/25/17

Finally my last post-op appointment and all is good.  I'm so glad to put this chapter of my life behind me and be free of that mess.

Day 299- Thursday, 10/26/17

Today I'm in Tahoe for a work event.  It's a beautiful fall day up here but sadly I only saw the great outdoors during lunch.  It was a good and interesting meeting though so I'm glad I had the opportunity to go and also reconnect with so many of my past colleagues.

Day 300- Friday, 10/27/17

TGIF!  Now it's time for Brandon to relax.  The first thing he did when he got home from school was crash on the couch with a warm blanket and his phone of course.

Day 301- Saturday, 10/28/17

Now John is in Tahoe with the guys so it's just me and boys going out for burgers. Yum!  Actually Justin went rogue and had ham and cheese.

Wait!  One more-

October's Family Photo

Sadly we're missing the oldest this month but he'll be around for Nov, Dec, and January's photo.  This one was taken just before carving our pumpkins.  Look how tall my other boys are getting.  It won't be long before I'm the shortest of them all.

Now that's it!  See you in November ;0)

Week 42

Hello and welcome back to Tuesday.  We had a nice overnight rain last week that really helped clear the air and dampen the fires.  The weather otherwise has been perfect for comfortable fall days which makes it nice to be outside.  We could use more rain but I'm not really ready for all that to start yet. The early-morning, low-sitting fog will do for now.  It seems more fitting for a spooky October.

Here are last week's pictures:

Day 288- Sunday, 10/15/17

While John worked to make a large batch of chili verde for dinner I powered through the laundry that haunts me each weekend.

Day 289- Monday, 10/16/17

These two enjoy basking in the afternoon fall sun.  This is the only place Rusty will sit on Brandon's lap so it's become an after school thing for them. 

Day 290- Tuesday, 10/17/17

I'm loving our patch pumpkins in the entry way.  We picked some good ones with year.  It's also time for a batch of pumpkin bread.  I'll be sending two of the small loaves to Tyler in a care package even though his brothers strongly object with that idea.  They'd like it all for themselves.

Day 291- Wednesday, 10/18/17

It's double star day at Starbucks and a minimum day for Brandon so we went in for an afternoon treat on this warmer fall day.  It won't be long before we are switching to hot afternoon drinks.

Day 292- Thursday, 10/19/17

Both the pets quickly make their way to the sliding door when I open it for some fresh air.  They can't get enough and are even nice about sharing.

Day 293- Friday, 10/20/17

A perfect late dinner after a chilly ride home from practice is warm grilled cheese and ham.  He already ate the rest of his dinner while waiting for the sandwich to cook.  Poor starving teenage boy!

Day 294- Saturday, 10/21/17

I finally made it a cross-country meet to see Justin run and it was fun--a super chilly start but ended with a perfect fall afternoon.  There are only a few more meets left which is hard to believe.  Later John and I headed to the local wine country near the foothills for a tasting and then dinner with friends.  It was a full and beautiful weekend day.

That's it!  See you all next week.

Week 41

Welcome back!  It's Tuesday again and life keeps going on faster than you can imagine.  I'm deeming 2017 the year of disasters--political, natural, man-made, you name it.  How much more we can take? Thank goodness this year is almost over and maybe the next will bring nothing but good.  

Here are last week's pictures:

Day 281- Sunday, 10/8/17

It's cinnamon roll Sunday which is perfect for a cool fall morning.  I like to bake and have the oven on when it's cold out plus you can't beat the smell of cinnamon that fills the house.  Justin even thanked me 3 times for this warm comforting start to his day :0)  Sadly it's been awhile.

Day 282- Monday, 10/9/17

Our skies are filled with smoke as the sun sets behind our house from fires that took over Sonoma and Napa counties last night.  We are a good 100 miles away so safe, but our hearts break for those who lost so much.  Many of us here in the Sacramento area visit these places often and have family, friends, or colleagues who live there so it makes it a bit more personal.  We even vacationed in the Santa Rosa area just a couple months ago before school started so it was especially hard to see and hear about parts being destroyed.  I pulled the last 2 pictures from the internet.  Photo credits go to the Golden Gate CHP and LA Times respectively.  So much devastation and loss as the fires continue to burn--over 20 in our great state :0(

Day 283- Tuesday, 10/10/17

We're getting ready for Halloween around here.  Brandon picked out an Alien costume to wear on the big day and Justin has decided not to dress up this year and watch movies at a friend's house instead.  I continue to decorate and love seeing all my pumpkins out again.

Day 284- Wednesday, 10/11/17

It's Wednesday at work and me at the microscope.  We are testing literally thousands of sheep and goat samples for antibodies to one of our parasites so I'll be spending a lot of time on the scope.  I learned how to read slides with this scope over 20 years ago and it's still here with me as I make my way through reading many more.

Day 285- Thursday, 10/12/17

Finally Justin can relax.  Midterms are over and he has a 3-day weekend ahead with no school tomorrow and no homework or commitments.  Lucky guy!

Day 286- Friday, 10/13/17

It's a beautiful fall day and an unexpected day off for teacher development so we ran a couple errands, grabbed lunch, and then hit up the local pumpkin patch.  We may have even grubbed on some fresh made apple cider donuts.  Yum!

Day 287- Saturday, 10/14/17

John's turn to have some fun.  He's headed out for a nice fall ride up in the foothills today.

That's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by and see you next week.

Week 40

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  How are we already into October?  Fall is here and it's time to get ready for Halloween.  We broke out the decorations and started some planning.  Maybe we'll even pick out our pumpkins next week and do some baking.  This is the perfect time of year where it's not too hot or too cold and we can just enjoy the change in seasons.

Here are last week's pictures:

Day 274- Sunday, 10/1/17

Bella posed with my monthly marker and one of my new pumpkins.  Welcome to October!

Day 275- Monday, 10/2/17

Today is my first day back at work in the lab.  I think my bugs missed me.

Day 276- Tuesday, 10/3/17

Somebody is hungry and can't wait for his dinner bowl to be placed on the floor.

Day 277- Wednesday, 10/4/17

We love the seasonal pumpkin donuts from Entenmann's and this year they also have apple cider ones so of course we had to to give them a try.  Yum!

Day 278- Thursday, 10/5/17

These golden sun kissed plants greet me every morning as I head to coffee with a friend.  The sight of their warm glow helps kick start my work day or is it the coffee?  I'd say both ;0)

Day 279- Friday, 10/6/17

Tyler asked me to send him my old O-Chem model kit.  I kept it from my college days and I think it's pretty cool my son is now using it in his college days.  He received it in the mail today and made a simple carbon bonded to 4 hydrogens for me.  Nope!  I don't miss chemistry class at all.

Day 280- Saturday, 10/7/17

Yesterday was the River City High School homecoming game and today is the dance.  Justin went with a group of cross country friends and had a super fun time.  It was the perfect way to unwind after taking his SAT all morning.

That's it!  See you next week.

Week 39

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  It actually feels like fall around here which is nice except for the wind.  Things are about to get real with all the activities and holidays coming up plus I'm back to work which adds to the juggling act.  My head is spinning thinking about it so let's not go there just yet.

Instead enjoy last week's pictures:

Day 267- Sunday, 9/24/17

We are starting to see fall color around the neighborhood and can feel the crispness in the air.  Bring it on!  I'm happy to be home spending some time with these two after dropping Tyler at school. They help keep my mind off missing their brother.  John is at the track today on his bike so it's just us goofing around.

Day 268- Monday, 9/25/17

I have an extensive to-do list going right now trying to get things done at home before heading back to work next week.  It seemed like I had so much time in the beginning of my leave and now it seems there's not enough time to finish all I imagined doing.  Regardless I'm ready to go back soon.  Once the kids got home from school Brandon requested Penne pasta for dinner which is his favorite.

Day 269- Tuesday, 9/26/17

It's going to be a beautiful day in the neighborhood and it's starting out with a colorful sunrise.  Time for my morning walk.

Day 270- Wednesday, 9/27/17

Justin was happy to find a pudding cup left over from Tyler's soft-food diet when he had his wisdom teeth out.  We don't usually have pudding around so this was a huge score for him.

Day 271- Thursday, 9/28/17

These two--their favorite time of day is right after school when they can spend some quality time together and just hang out. In other news, the doctor signed my papers to allow me to return to work Monday.  Yay!

Day 272- Friday, 9/29/17

TGIF!  John and I tried a new burger place, Flaming Grill Cafe, for dinner tonight and it was really good.  He also liked the craft beers on tap.  Great way to kick off the weekend.

Day 273- Saturday, 9/30/17

Justin had an optional cross country meet today but is fighting a chest cold, not good for running,  so he decided to opt out and volunteer at the animal shelter instead.  There were over 20 kittens to play with which he really enjoyed.  He also worked up a huge thirst doing other chores there so we made a quick stop to pick up an orange Fanta and stuff for dinner on the way home.

That's it for now.  See you next week.